My thoughts on the Phillies season.

Phils’ pitching threw its second straight shut out, as they defeat the Padres, 2-0.

Phils’ pitching have now thrown 23 straight shut out innings as they shut out the Padres for the second straight game, 2-0.

The Phils took the lead with two outs in the third as Ryan Howard hits a two-run triple, scoring Shane Victorino and Placido Polanco, who had both walked, then both moved up a base on Clayton Richard’s wild pitch, giving the Phils a 2-0 lead. That would be all the runs that the Phils would need, as starter Cole Hamels and reliever Ryan Madson combined for a four-hit shut out, with Madson collecting his first save of the season with a 1-2-3 ninth.

Cole Hamels (2-1, 2.92) gets the win as he pitched eight shut out innings, giving up four hits and three walks, while he struck out eight. Ryan Madson received his first save of the season as he pitched a 1-2-3 ninth, striking out a batter. Clayton Richard (1-1, 3.95) took the lost, as he went seven and one-thirds innings, giving up two runs on six hits and four walks, while striking out four. Ernesto Frieri pitched one and two-thirds scoreless innings, while striking out a batter. The Phils’ pitching staff have now thrown five shut outs in their first nineteen games.

The Phils had six hits in the game, with Cole Hamels (Singles) and Ryan Howard (Single, Triple, 2 RBIs) leading the team with two hits each. Shane Victorino and Placido Polanco had the other two Phils’ hits, both singles. The offense is still being non-effective. Hopefully they will snap out of it before the team heads off for Phoenix.

The Phils (13-6, 1st NL East) will continue their series with the Padres (8-12, 5th NL West). The Phils will send to the mound Joe Blanton (0-1, 7.27), who is coming off a no-decision against the Brewers on April 18, as he went seven innings, giving up two runs on sevens hits and a walk, while striking out four, in the Phils’ 6-3 extra-innings lost. He will be trying for his first win of the season, while trying to continue the Phils present winning streak. The Padres will counter with Tim Stauffer (0-1, 3.27), who is coming off a no-decision against the Cubs on April 18, as he threw seven scoreless innings, giving up just four hits and a walk, while striking out four, in the Padres’ 1-0 lost. He is still looking for his first win of the year. The Phil will try for their first four games winning streak of the year, while hoping that the offense will finally wake up.

Meta

The following are trademarks or service marks of Major League Baseball entities and may be used only with permission of Major League Baseball Properties, Inc. or the relevant Major League Baseball entity: Major League, Major League Baseball, MLB, the silhouetted batter logo, World Series, National League, American League, Division Series, League Championship Series, All-Star Game, and the names, nicknames, logos, uniform designs, color combinations, and slogans designating the Major League Baseball clubs and entities, and their respective mascots, events and exhibitions.